Rovers boss remains positive despite three draws

Paul Goodwin

Paul Dickov refused to blame fatigue after below-par Doncaster Rovers were held to a goalless draw at home to Southend United.

Rovers were unchanged from the side that drew at Wigan on Sunday but unrecognisable in their play as they struggled to trouble the newly-promoted Shrimpers.

The stalemate means Doncaster have drawn their opening three League One games.

Their busy schedule continues over the next fortnight with Capital One Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy commitments sandwiched between league clashes with Port Vale and Fleetwood.

“It would be too easy to say things had caught up with us,” said Dickov.

“I thought one or two looked a little jaded but the majority of them are fine.

“I think the main thing was we’ve just got to make sure frustration doesn’t set in too early in games. We can’t afford to make it difficult for ourselves and make it easy for teams to defend against us.

“You’ve got to give Southend credit because they came to do a job on us.

“It was a frustrating night,” he added.

“We knew they’d possibly come and make it difficult for us and look to hit us on the break.

“In the first half we got frustrated too early and went long too quickly.

“The second half was slightly better but we need to do a lot more work on the training ground to prepare for when teams come here and make it difficult to break them down.”

Goals may have been in short supply for Doncaster but, by the same token, the only goal they have shipped at the other end in League One so far has been Leon Clarke’s ‘walk-in’ equaliser for Bury on the opening day.

“I’m positive,” said Dickov, reflecting on Rovers’ start to the season.

“I know what we’ve got in the squad.

“To start the season unbeaten is a positive in itself. We want to win games, of course. We should have won at Wigan.

“Tonight was difficult for us but football’s not easy. Teams aren’t going to come here and roll over.

“What we will do is work out a way of breaking teams down when they come and do that to us.”

Harry Forrester limped off late in the second half but will be fit to face Port Vale on Saturday.